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NEWS PAGE 6
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Kings of combat battle in world of martial arts
Board of Regents to finalize tuition-hike proposal LIFE&ARTS PAGE 12
21-year-old virgin strives for success over sex
THE DAILY TEXAN Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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SG executive alliances come under fire By Audrey White Daily Texan Staff Today, the Election Supervisory Board will hold both a hearing to consider two separate questions of potential election code violation by the campaign of executive alliance Minator Azemi and Justin Stein as well as a deposition to examine the financial disclosure reports of the campaign of executive alliance Scott Parks and Muneezeh Kabir. Numerous complaints were filed against the Azemi and Stein campaign regarding an e-mail sent asking for students to vote for Azemi and Stein. Azemi said the e-mail was sent to a list of more than 10,000 student e-mail addresses his campaign compiled using the UT directory. Under the election code, all distributed electronic materials must comply with the guidelines of the entity through which the e-mail addresses were obtained — in this case, the UT directory, a program of Information Technology Services. According to the ITS Acceptable Use Policy, “sending an unsolicited message(s) to a large
number of recipients (known as ‘spamming the network’)” is an inappropriate use of resources. The board ruled Tuesday night that a violation of ITS rules would also be a violation of the election code, which would place the matter under the board’s jurisdiction. “I was unaware of the rule,” Azemi said. “[E-mail addresses on the directory] are public information, and anybody can access them. It was an e-mail that encouraged students to vote for Justin and me. There was no commercial gain or monetary reward there.” Azemi acknowledged that according to the election code, ignorance of the rules does not excuse a violation. Several students also filed complaints with the board regarding campaign materials for Azemi and Stein that were slipped underneath the doors of Jester dorm rooms. According to the Division of Housing and Food Services Web site, “political campaigning ... in the residence halls or dining rooms is not permitted unless specifically authorized.” Azemi said
the team obtained permission from the University Residence Hall Council. Because rules of solicitation in dorms are governed by the University, and because candidates are required to adhere to all University rules under the code, the board will hear the case in conjunction with the hearing about the e-mails. Kabir said she is concerned her campaign has been put at a disadvantage because the other campaign contacted so many students using methods she deems questionable. Voting for elections ends at 5 p.m. today, and the board’s ruling in the hearing will come after at least one day — and possibly two full days — of voting, depending on the timing of the hearing and deliberations. “To defy University policy is worthy of disqualification, especially so close to the end,” Kabir said. The Parks and Kabir campaign may Peyton McGee | Daily Texan Staff also face consequences for not properly submitting its first round of financial dis- Student government presidential candidate Minator Azemi rallies for support on the closures by the Feb. 17 deadline. Board Main Mall on Tuesday. Azemi supporters draped his campaign shirt on a cutout of Taylor Lautner, who plays a werewolf in the movie “Twilight,” because of the mythical relationSG continues on page 2 ship between werewolves and minotaurs.
White successful Perry earns Republican nod in campaign for Democratic berth getary shortfalls, said James HenBy Collin Eaton son, director of the Texas Politics Daily Texan Staff Texas Democratic gubernatori- Project. “One of the things about the Real candidate and former Houston Mayor Bill White garnered 76.45 publican campaign is that there has percent of the statewide prima- been very little discussion about ry vote Tuesday night, defeating budget and economic difficulties Houston businessman Farouk Sha- looming in Texas,” Henson said. mi, who received 12.51 percent of “That was one of the major failthe vote, and five other candidates. ings of the Hutchison campaign. “Today, the Texans who cast their The challenge for White is to overvotes ... sent a clear signal,” White come that.” University Democrats spent said in Houston. eight hours Tues“Texas is ready day in the Texfor a new goveras Union calling nor.” registered voters On Tuesday in districts where night at Serrano’s candidates faced Cafe and Canticompetitive racna, Democratic es. candidates and UDems Prestheir supporters ident Melesgathered for the sa Rodriguez Big Tent Primary said White is Party, where they the Democrats’ watched the elec“Great White tion results and Today, the Texans Hope.” Rodrienjoyed free food who cast their votes guez said she and rock music. would watch With 97 per... sent a clear signal. White’s victocent of precincts Texas is ready for a ry margin closereporting their ly because a big new governor.” results, 662,717 victory for White people voted in — Bill White could help his the Democratic primary on TuesGubernatorial nominee prospects in November. day. A total of “Since 2008 491,116 Republiand the election can and Demoof Obama, it’s cratic voters participated in last week’s early vot- been pretty difficult to bring peoing, according to the Texas Secre- ple out and to get them interested and engaged again,” she said. tary of State’s Web site. White’s challenge in November “[White] is probably the only guwill be to frame Gov. Rick Perry bernatorial candidate that our as an insider incumbent candidate WHITE continues on page 2 and to focus more on Texas’ bud-
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Rene Huynh | Daily Texan Staff
Sharon Ellerby and Eleanor Thompson view the updated election points with fellow supporters of Yvonne Williams, a Democratic justice of the peace candidate for the 1st Precinct.
Peyton McGee | Daily Texan Staff
Rick Perry kisses his wife Anita before addressing supporters at his watch party at The Salt Lick restaurant in Driftwood on Tuesday night. Perry was assured the gubernatorial nomination after Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison conceded the race.
After Hutchison’s concession, incumbent addresses voters By Alex Geiser Daily Texan Staff Spotlights, music and a giant Texas flag set the scene for Gov. Rick Perry’s acceptance of the Republican gubernatorial nomination after Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison conceded Tuesday night. Perry, accompanied by his family, addressed hundreds of supporters at The Salt Lick restaurant in Driftwood. Perry’s nomination came after months of aggressive campaigning and millions of dollars spent by both the Perry and Hutchison camps. “From Driftwood, Texas, to Washington, D.C., we are sending you a message tonight,” Perry said to the crowd. “Stop messing with Texas. That message resonates.” As Perry spoke, Austin resident Myrna Hall and her husband, who had earlier made their way to the front of the crowd to ensure they had a good view, were all smiles. Hall and her husband attended Perry’s rally with Sarah Palin last month and plan to attend the governor’s ball in January if Perry reclaims the seat. Hall said that Hutchison entered the gubernatorial race because she was tired of Washington, D.C., but that her policies are too radical for Texas.
“We believe Kay Bailey Hutchison is a progressive,” she said. “We’re Texans — we don’t have room in our hearts for progressives. We believe Rick Perry is the right man for Texas.” Hutchison raised and spent millions of dollars more than Perry over the course of the campaign. The senator raised more than $14 million while Perry raised almost $13 million from Jan. 1, 2009, to Feb. 20, 2010, according to reports from the Texas Ethics Commission. Hutchison spent more than $19 million, and Perry spent more than $16 million on the campaign over the same period of time, according to the commission. Geoffrey Geiger, treasurer of College Republicans at Texas, said Perry will maintain his anti-Washington message as the November election approaches. Geiger said Democratic candidate Bill White is seen as a friend of Washington, D.C., because of his party affiliation. “Because Bill White is a Democrat, he is more likely going to be in favor of policies that either allow for more federal intervention in the state or pass laws that are deemed intrusive
PERRY continues on page 2
Tony Gutierrez | Associated Press
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison smiles as she acknowledges support from her husband Ray and others following her speech conceding the Republican nomination for Texas governor to Gov. Rick Perry in Dallas on Tuesday.
Primary Election Results Republican
Democrat
Governor Nominees
Rick Perry
Bill White
Lieutenant Governor Nominees
David Dewhurst
Linda ChavezThompson
Agricultural Commissioner Nominees
Todd Staples
Hank Gilbert